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                                                           EXHIBIT 25.1


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                         SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                              WASHINGTON, D.C.  20549



                                     ---------

                        STATEMENT OF ELIGIBILITY UNDER THE
                         TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939 OF A
                     CORPORATION DESIGNATED TO ACT AS TRUSTEE

                  Check if an Application to Determine Eligibility
                   of a Trustee Pursuant to Section 305(b)(2) --


                        STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY
               (Exact name of trustee as specified in its charter)

               Massachusetts                                 04-1867445
     (Jurisdiction of incorporation or                    (I.R.S. Employer
  organization if not a U.S. national bank)              Identification No.)

                  225 Franklin Street, Boston, Massachusetts         02110
                    (Address of principal executive offices)       (Zip Code)

           John R. Towers, Esq.  Senior Vice President and Corporate Secretary
                  225 Franklin Street, Boston, Massachusetts  02110
                                      (617) 654-3253
                (Name, address and telephone number of agent for service)

                                     ---------------------

                                       FIRST BANKS, INC.
                                       -----------------
                    (Exact name of obligor as specified in its charter)

                  MISSOURI                                      43-1175538
        (State or other jurisdiction of                      (I.R.S. Employer
        incorporation or organization)                      Identification No.)

                                    135 North Meramec Avenue
                                      St. Louis, MO  63105
                                         (314) 854-4600
                      (Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)
                                      --------------------

                              % SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES DUE 2027
                                (Title of indenture securities)


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                                          GENERAL

ITEM 1.   GENERAL INFORMATION.

          FURNISH THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION AS TO THE TRUSTEE:

          (A)  NAME AND ADDRESS OF EACH EXAMINING OR SUPERVISORY AUTHORITY
               TO WHICH IT IS SUBJECT.

          Department of Banking and Insurance of The Commonwealth of
          Massachusetts, 100 Cambridge Street, Boston, Massachusetts.

          Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, Washington,
          D.C., Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Washington, D.C.

ITEM 2.   AFFILIATIONS WITH OBLIGOR.

          IF THE OBLIGOR IS AN AFFILIATE OF THE TRUSTEE, DESCRIBE EACH SUCH
          AFFILIATION.

          The obligor is not an affiliate of the trustee or of its parent,
          State Street Boston Corporation.

          (See note on page 6.)

ITEM 3. THROUGH ITEM 15. NOT APPLICABLE.

ITEM 16.  LIST OF EXHIBITS.

          LIST BELOW ALL EXHIBITS FILED AS PART OF THIS STATEMENT OF
          ELIGIBILITY.

          1.   A COPY OF THE ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION OF THE TRUSTEE AS NOW
          IN EFFECT.

          A copy of the Articles of Association of the trustee, as now in
          effect, is on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission as
          Exhibit 1 to Amendment No. 1 to the Statement of Eligibility and
          Qualification of Trustee (Form T-1) filed with the Registration
          Statement of Morse Shoe, Inc. (File No. 22-17940) and is
          incorporated herein by reference thereto.

          2.   A COPY OF THE CERTIFICATE OF AUTHORITY OF THE TRUSTEE TO
          COMMENCE BUSINESS, IF NOT CONTAINED IN THE ARTICLES OF
          ASSOCIATION.

          A copy of a Statement from the Commissioner of Banks
          of Massachusetts that no certificate of authority for the
          trustee to commence business was necessary or issued is on
          file with the Securities and Exchange Commission as Exhibit 2
          to Amendment No. 1 to the Statement of Eligibility and
          Qualification of Trustee (Form T-1) filed with the Registration
          Statement of Morse Shoe, Inc. (File No. 22-17940) and is
          incorporated herein by reference thereto.

          3.   A COPY OF THE AUTHORIZATION OF THE TRUSTEE TO EXERCISE
          CORPORATE TRUST POWERS, IF SUCH AUTHORIZATION IS NOT CONTAINED IN THE
          DOCUMENTS SPECIFIED IN PARAGRAPH (1) OR (2), ABOVE.

          A copy of the authorization of the trustee to exercise
          corporate trust powers is on file with the Securities and
          Exchange Commission as Exhibit 3 to Amendment No. 1 to the
          Statement of Eligibility and Qualification of Trustee
          (Form T-1) filed with the Registration Statement of Morse Shoe,
          Inc. (File No. 22-17940) and is incorporated herein by
          reference thereto.

          4.   A COPY OF THE EXISTING BY-LAWS OF THE TRUSTEE, OR INSTRUMENTS
          CORRESPONDING THERETO.

          A copy of the by-laws of the trustee, as now in effect, is
          on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission as
          Exhibit 4 to the Statement of Eligibility and Qualification
          of Trustee (Form T-1) filed with the Registration Statement
          of Eastern Edison Company (File No. 33-37823) and is
          incorporated herein by reference thereto.

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          5.   A COPY OF EACH INDENTURE REFERRED TO IN ITEM 4. IF THE
          OBLIGOR IS IN DEFAULT.

          Not applicable.

          6.   THE CONSENTS OF UNITED STATES INSTITUTIONAL TRUSTEES REQUIRED
          BY SECTION 321(b) OF THE ACT.

          The consent of the trustee required by Section 321(b) of the Act
          is annexed hereto as Exhibit 6 and made a part hereof.

          7.   A COPY OF THE LATEST REPORT OF CONDITION OF THE TRUSTEE
          PUBLISHED PURSUANT TO LAW OR THE REQUIREMENTS OF ITS SUPERVISING OR
          EXAMINING AUTHORITY.

          A copy of the latest report of condition of the trustee
          published pursuant to law or the requirements of its
          supervising or examining authority is annexed hereto as
          Exhibit 7 and made a part hereof.


                                  NOTES

          In answering any item of this Statement of Eligibility and
Qualification which relates to matters peculiarly within the knowledge of
the obligor or any underwriter for the obligor, the trustee has relied upon
information furnished to it by the obligor and the underwriters, and the
trustee disclaims responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of such
information.

          The answer furnished to Item 2. of this statement will be amended,
if necessary, to reflect any facts which differ from those stated and which
would have been required to be stated if known at the date hereof.


                                  SIGNATURE

          Pursuant to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939,
as amended, the trustee, State Street Bank and Trust Company, a corporation
organized and existing under the laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts,
has duly caused this statement of eligibility and qualification to be signed
on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, all in the City
of Boston and The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, on the 19TH DAY OF
DECEMBER, 1996.

                                  STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY


                                  By:   /s/ Paul D. Allen
                                       --------------------------------------
                                            PAUL D. ALLEN
                                            VICE PRESIDENT

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                                  EXHIBIT 6


                              CONSENT OF THE TRUSTEE

          Pursuant to the requirements of Section 321(b) of the Trust
Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, in connection with the proposed issuance
by FIRST BANKS, INC. of its SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES DUE 2027, we hereby
consent that reports of examination by Federal, State, Territorial or
District authorities may be furnished by such authorities to the Securities
and Exchange Commission upon request therefor.

                                  STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY


                                  By:   /s/ Paul D. Allen
                                       -------------------------------------
                                            PAUL D. ALLEN
                                            VICE PRESIDENT

DATED: DECEMBER 19, 1996

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                                EXHIBIT 7

Consolidated Report of Condition of State Street Bank and Trust Company of
Boston, Massachusetts and foreign and domestic subsidiaries, a state banking
institution organized and operating under the banking laws of this
commonwealth and a member of the Federal Reserve System, at the close of
business June 30, 1996, published in accordance with a call made by the
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Federal Reserve Bank of this District pursuant to the provisions of the
Federal Reserve Act and in accordance with a call made by the Commissioner
of Banks under General Laws, Chapter 172, Section 22(a).



                                                                                                  Thousands of
                                                                                                     Dollars
                                                                                            
ASSETS

Cash and balances due from depository institutions:
    Noninterest-bearing balances and currency and coin............................................   1,787,130
    Interest-bearing balances.....................................................................   7,756,486
Securities                                                                                           8,430,910
Federal funds sold and securities purchased
    under agreements to resell in domestic offices
    of the bank and its Edge subsidiary...........................................................   4,090,665
Loans and lease financing receivables:
    Loans and leases, net of unearned income....................  4,426,059
    Allowance for loan and lease losses.........................     70,088
    Loans and leases, net of unearned income and allowances.......................................   4,355,971
Assets held in trading accounts...................................................................     880,647
Premises and fixed assets.........................................................................     367,731
Other real estate owned...........................................................................       1,067
Investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries........................................................      65,772
Customers' liability to this bank on acceptances outstanding......................................      33,530
Intangible assets.................................................................................      68,505
Other assets......................................................................................   1,002,465
                                                                                                    ----------
Total assets......................................................................................  28,840,879
                                                                                                    ==========

LIABILITIES

Deposits:
    In domestic offices...........................................................................   7,531,683
        Noninterest-bearing.....................................  5,387,924
        Interest-bearing........................................  2,143,759
    In foreign offices and Edge subsidiary........................................................  12,050,265
        Noninterest-bearing.....................................     46,768
        Interest-bearing........................................ 12,003,497
Federal funds purchased and securities sold under
    agreements to repurchase in domestic offices of
    the bank and of its Edge subsidiary...........................................................   5,337,231
Demand notes issued to the U.S. Treasury and Trading Liabilities..................................     871,847
Other borrowed money..............................................................................     794,349
Bank's liability on acceptances executed and outstanding..........................................      33,530
Other liabilities.................................................................................     665,616
                                                                                                    ----------
Total liabilities.................................................................................  27,284,521
                                                                                                    ----------
EQUITY CAPITAL
Common stock......................................................................................      29,931
Surplus...........................................................................................     276,915
Undivided profits.................................................................................   1,247,942
Cumulative foreign currency translation adjustments...............................................       1,570
                                                                                                    ----------
Total equity capital..............................................................................   1,556,358
                                                                                                    ----------
Total liabilities and equity capital..............................................................  28,840,879
                                                                                                    ==========


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I, Rex S. Schuette, Senior Vice President and Comptroller of the above named
bank do hereby declare that this Report of Condition has been prepared in
conformance with the instructions issued by the Board of Governors of the
Federal Reserve System and is true to the best of my knowledge and belief.

                                                Rex S. Schuette


We, the undersigned directors, attest to the correctness of this Report of
Condition and declare that it has been examined by us and to the best of our
knowledge and belief has been prepared in conformance with the instructions
issued by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and is true
and correct.

                                                David A. Spina
                                                Marshall N. Carter
                                                Charles F. Kaye

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